For more than two centuries, E pluribus unum—“Out of many, one”—has been featured on America’s
official government seals and stamped on its currency. But what unified a
growing number of disparate states into the modern country we recognize today?

Simon Winchester follows the footsteps of America’s most
crucial innovators, thinkers, and explorers, from Lewis and Clark, to the
builders of the first transcontinental railroad and the curmudgeonly civil
engineer who oversaw the creation of more than three million miles of highway.
Winchester travels across vast swaths of the American landscape, from
Pittsburgh to Portland, Seattle to Anchorage, and Truckee to Laramie, using the
five classical elements—wood, earth, water, fire, and metal—to chart the
contributions these adventurous leaders made to connect the diverse communities
within the United States and ensure the future of the American project begun in
1776.

The Men Who United the
States is an unforgettable journey of unprecedented scope across time and
open spaces, providing a new lens through which to view American history, led
by one of the most gifted writers.

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Quotes & Awards

“The Men Who United the States is a lively and surprising account of how this sprawling piece of geography became a nation. This is America from the ground up. Inspiring and engaging.”

Tom Brokaw, New York Times bestselling author of The Greatest Generation

“A rousing tribute to the alliances, agencies, and inventions—from Lewis and Clark to the Internet—that underpin our more perfect union. A stunning, highly original feast of a book.”

Stacy Schiff, Pulitzer Prize-winning and New York Times bestselling author

“Vivid, valuable…An extraordinary, propulsive tale.”

Wall Street Journal

“The subtitle promises readers a sack full of
exciting tales—and the author delivers. This is a clever, engaging, and
original look at what would seem well-trodden historical paths; but Winchester,
delightfully, breaks a fresh trail.”

Economist

“When people are smitten, they are blind to flaws
in their beloved. Winchester is no exception, and this book is less a history
than a love letter…Winchester is sufficiently entertaining that it’s easy to
forget the holes in his argument and enjoy the ride. His tour mixes popular
history with a contemporary travelogue..[and] many eclectic stories…Wnchester’s
eye for detail makes these vignettes a pleasure.”

“Winchester has found a thematic way to tell this
familiar story so it seems fresh and informative, even fascinating.”

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

“He…freshens US history by refusing to tell it
through the usual suspects.”

Seattle Times

“Mesmerizing and fascinating… Mr. Winchester is a
master storyteller, and all the individuals, places, and events that he
passionately writes about come to life in exquisite detail.”

New York Journal of Books

“A most genial storyteller.”

Las Vegas Weekly

“This is a finely crafted and valuable reminder that the evolution of our united nation was a process often accelerated by unlikely, sometimes eccentric men who operated outside the political sphere.”

Booklist (starred review)

“Winchester provides surprising insights into our social history, further enriching his narrative with accounts of his personal odysseys around the country. The results are highly recommended for public and school libraries and all readers looking for new and stimulating perspectives on the history of America.”

Library Journal

“What makes this book so enjoyable is that he
ties the development of these advances to some brilliant but idiosyncratic
personalities.”

BookPage

“At first, Simon Winchester’s British accent
might seem an odd fit with this audiobook. It is, after all, a slice of
Americana, recounting the stories of the men (yes, they’re all men) who turned
the pluribus into the unum with their treks, travails, and technologies. It
takes listeners from Lewis and Clark’s exploration to the building of the
railways and the interstate highways, and from the telegraph to the Internet.
But it’s quickly evident that Winchester—who was born and raised in England but
became an American citizen in 2011 at age sixty-six—is actually the ideal
narrator. The audiobook is sprinkled with stories from his own life, and his
reading sounds genuine and heartfelt, maintaining a pace that’s brisk without
sounding hurried.”

AudioFile

A New York Times bestseller

A Publishers Weekly bestseller

Selected for the November 2013 Indie Next List

A History Book Club Pick Main Selection

Listener Reviews

About the Author

Simon Winchester is the acclaimed author of many books, including The Professor and the Madman, The Man Who Loved China, A Crack in the Edge of the World, and Krakatoa—all of which were New York Times bestsellers and appeared on numerous best and notable lists. In 2006 Winchester was made an officer of the Order of the British Empire by her Majesty the Queen. He lives in Manhattan and in western Massachusetts.

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